West Orange Gets Their Get-Back, Defeats Rival East Orange in Thriller

photo by: Owen Klasey | coverage by: Nery Rodriguez

In a game that never fails to deliver drama, West Orange defended its home turf and reclaimed bragging rights, holding off previously undefeated East Orange, 14–13, in a tense Friday night battle that lived up to the rivalry’s history.

One year ago, East Orange broke West Orange’s hearts in a nail-biter with playoff implications. This time around, the Mountaineers flipped the script — matching intensity with execution to pull off a win that meant much more than just another number in the standings.

Senior running back and Syracuse commit Farad Green Jr. powered the Mountaineers’ offense, scoring both touchdowns on the night and grinding out tough yards against a defense that had allowed just 34 points all season. Green’s first touchdown, a 7-yard burst in the opening quarter, gave West Orange the early edge. But East Orange answered quickly with a goal-line run from Jaleel Halsey, closing the gap to 7–6 after a missed PAT.

The back-and-forth continued as Alex Hanks made a highlight-reel grab on a 45-yard pass from Zachary Concepcion, putting the Jaguars ahead 13–7 late in the second quarter. But Green and the Mountaineers weren’t done. With under a minute left in the half, Green capped off a hard-fought drive with a 3-yard score, and Aaron Godinez’s extra point became the deciding difference in another instant-classic Oranges Bowl matchup.

Both defenses locked in after halftime, trading stops and big hits as the game turned into a gritty, field-position battle. East Orange had one last chance after recovering a late fumble near its own end zone, but West Orange’s defense held firm, sealing a statement win to move to 6–2 (4–0 in the SFC Freedom Red).

After the game, Green Jr. reflected on what this rivalry — and this win — meant to him and his team:

“This win right here means everything to us. We spent a whole week preparing for this, and my head coach Darnell Grant and defensive coach Cyrus Harbin are phenomenal coaches,” Green Jr. said. “Just trusting their game plan and going out there playing fearless — we knew we were going to get the job done. This game was very personal.”

“A win like this going into the playoffs is a huge confidence booster. We just gotta keep trusting the process and putting in the work. We’re on our way to a state sectional title. I believe in all my guys — it takes a team to win, and everyone did their job today. That’s how we won.”

For West Orange, it’s not just revenge — it’s momentum. With the postseason looming, the Mountaineers look like a team playing their best football when it matters most.